Susie’s Story

“They made me feel safe, they really are amazing”

Susie Daisley was on her way home from a sea swim in Newquay last summer when she fell off her bike, breaking the biggest bone in the body in three places.

It was the end of July and there had been heatwave conditions followed by rain, and the roads were slippery. Susie was riding her e-bike when the back wheel slipped out from under her. She hit the ground hard, landing on her leg.

She was found by some passers-by who raised the alarm and called 999.

Critical care paramedics Lisa Ball and Louise Lamble were tasked to help. Due to the location and close distance from the airbase, they attended in a Rapid Response Vehicle rather than by helicopter.

On scene, they assessed Susie’s leg and it was clear that she had broken her femur. She was given gas and air to help with the pain. Once a land ambulance arrived, Lisa and Louise administered ketamine so Susie could be properly stabilised and moved onto a stretcher. The crew were then able to straighten her leg and put it into a traction splint.

Susie was conveyed via land ambulance to Treliske Hospital, where she underwent surgery. Susie, who suffers from osteoporosis, had broken her femur, the thigh bone, in three places. She had a metal rod inserted from her hip to her knee, and spent several days in hospital. She later underwent further x-rays and had a second operation to help straighten the bone, and had a metal plate inserted to keep it in place.

Almost 10 months on since the incident, Susie is on the road to recovery but is still experiencing problems with walking. The surgeon told her it could take up to 18 months to fully recover.

She has since visited the Cornwall Air Ambulance HQ in Newquay, where she got to meet critical care paramedic Louise and say thank you.

“It was lovely, they were like angels that day, when you’re in pain you just want someone there to make you feel better. You know you’re in good hands then.”

“They made me feel safe, they are really amazing. I think the service is fantastic, we couldn’t be without it in Cornwall. They’re heroes I would say.”

Susie’s story features in the new series of Cornwall Air 999, which is on Quest every Friday at 9pm and is available as catch-up on discovery+.